Essential Table Editing Techniques

Now that you ve created a table, what s next ? Well, you ll probably need to perform essential editing tasks , such as selecting table elements so that you can work with them, adding rows or columns , or filling in content, using existing data. You might also need to split, merge or delete table cells .

Selecting Cells, Rows, Columns, and Tables

Selecting tables and their contents is easy, but not necessarily intuitive, if you haven t done it before. With the mouse, you can select cells by clicking and dragging within the table. With the keyboard, you can hold down Shift, and use the Up, Down, Left or Right arrow keys.

You select rows and columns a bit differently, however. To select a row, move the pointer over the leftmost border of the row, and then click when the row selection arrow is displayed. To select a column, move the pointer over the topmost border of the column, and then click when the column selection arrow is displayed.

You can select a table and all its contents by clicking anywhere on the table and choosing Table, Select, Table.

Adding Rows and Columns to Existing Tables

You can insert rows and columns into tables by using the Insert Rows and Insert Columns tools on the Table toolbar. To add a row, position the insertion point in the row below the location where you want to add a new row, and click Insert Rows. To add a column, position the insertion point in the column to the right of where you want to add a new column, and then click Insert Columns.

You can also add a new row to the end of a table by pressing Tab in the last cell of a table.

Filling in Using Copies of Existing Table Data

You can use fill to repeat the content of one cell in multiple cells, without having to re-enter the content. When you fill cells, you copy the content of a cell (the model cell ), to cells that are either in the row to the right, or in the column below.

To fill cells, follow these steps:

1. Start by entering content into the cell that you want to use for filling other cells.

2. Next select the model cell and the adjacent cells that you are going to fill.

   • If these cells are in adjacent columns, select the model cell, and then drag the mouse to the right, selecting other cells in the row.

   • If these cells are in adjacent rows, select the model cell, and then drag the mouse down, selecting other cells in the column.

3. Select Table, Fill Right, or Fill Down, as appropriate, and FrontPage will fill the contents of the other cells, based on the model cell.

Splitting Cells to Create Columns or Rows within Cells

You can split cells to create columns and rows within cells. Right-click the cell you want to split, and then select Split Cells. In the Split Cells dialog box, select Split Into Columns, or Split Into Rows, as appropriate, and then click OK. You ve now added a column or row within the cell, and the table now has two or more columns or rows within that cell.

Note  

You can specify whether you want more than 2 columns or rows. After you select the Split Into option, use the Number Of Columns, or Number Of Rows field to set number of columns or rows into which you want the cells split.

Merging Cells, Columns, and Rows

You can merge two or more table elements into a single cell, column, or row. Select the cells, columns, or rows that you want to merge, and then right-click and choose Merge Cells. As a result of the merge, any data that was split between multiple table cells, columns, or rows is merged into a single element.

Deleting Cells, Columns, and Rows

You can delete cells, columns, and rows to remove these elements and their contents from the table. Select the cells, columns, and rows you want to remove. Right-click, and then choose Delete Cells.

Note  

Sometimes, you might want to use the deleted elements elsewhere on the page. In this case, select the elements to delete, then use Cut (Ctrl+X) to move the elements to the clipboard. You can then use Paste (Ctrl+V) to insert the elements where they are needed.